The mistake she made, and she realized that now was not immediately telling Alexi about her illness. She had been terrified of her friend thinking less of her. Wouldn't she have thought less of Alexi? How could she? Alexi was brave and selfless.
There it was then. Savanna nodded to herself. Her fear of being a coward of not being willing to make the sacrifice that was what drove her to stab herself. She nodded to her own thoughts. If she hadn’t seen the vision she would have thought herself brave. Deep down, though, she knew she was hiding. This wasn’t a sacrifice she could make. Her spell wouldn’t work, she would die and the whole world with her.
Alexi’s gifts required her to feed on others and sometimes it was Savanna. She gladly gave her friend nourishment. Savanna’s gifts required sacrifice too. Up until this point, she swore that she would never use another person to power her magic as long as she lived.
“I’m not like you, mother, I can’t kill people to live.”
“When you have, you know where to find me.”
Her conversation with her mother popped in her head. She winced, this wasn’t to save her life— it was to save the world. How many could she justify to put an end to the madness? How many lives must she snuff out to perform the magic she would need to find the right zombie? Ten? Twenty? A hundred? She looked around the room, everyone around her would give their lives to save the world. Would they give it like this? At the end of her dagger to fuel magic they fought against.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Connor asked. Savanna breathed in his scent. Even stuck underground he smelled good. It took everything in her not to run to him the second she saw him, but with all the other agents around she didn’t want to compromise him.
“I missed you,” she said.
“Me too,” his hand brushed hers. It was impossible to keep a secret like this hidden. For his sake, she hadn’t wanted to advertise.
“Is there a place we can go and be alone?” she asked. All the worry and anxiety over what to do fled when he took her hand in his. She glanced back at Alexi as they left the room.
“She’ll be fine,” Connor said.
Of that, Savanna had no doubt.
***
Hot water splashed down on her shoulders in a cascade that washed away the dirt and grime along with bits of people. She had no idea how long it had been since she last had a shower. This was exactly what she needed. Her hair stuck to her scalp in a horrid matted mess. She contemplated cutting it loose but she refused to give into the zombies. With some effort, she cleaned her hair of the mess. She pulled each lock and slid her borrowed brush until all of her blonde hair shined in the light.
Once it was clean reconsidered the idea of cutting it. In her room was a small dresser and mirror. Along with twin bed that wouldn’t be long enough. Since the revelation that she didn’t look like the person she had been, Alexi had wondered if she even saw her actual self in the mirror. Was the person who stared back her? Or an ideal version of her?
Osei had volunteered to show her the room which she was happy for. He was a nice man with an infectious smile and an indomitable will. It was a little awkward when he pointed out the mirror. To ease his humiliation, Alexi walked in front of it. That would be all over the place by now—a vampire with a reflection. She was tired of asking herself that question. The why? She didn’t care anymore.
She took her hair and pulled it out straight while looking in the mirror. Her hair fell past her shoulder blades and was easy to gather together. She absently thought about the little girl who would call her mom. Did she have blonde hair as well? She shrugged, it was best not to think of it right now. Yu had assured her that the forwarding address her family left was on Bainbridge island. There was no way for them to be stuck in the middle of this mess. By all accounts, the island remained clear—for now.
With her other hand, she hefted her sword and sliced the blade clean through her locks. She dropped the cut hair in the sink and looked in the mirror. The haircut was awful. The line of her hair fell at an odd angle and was uneven. Dreading the moment of truth she froze if she looked down and there wasn’t hair in the sink… She couldn’t do it. What if there wasn’t? Her lips trembled at the thought of being one of those things.
A knock on the door startled her and she quickly looked away.
She grabbed the robe off the dresser and shrugged it on, fastening the belt as she went. It covered her enough that she wasn’t concerned, it was probably Savanna anyway. She peaked her head around the door. Detective Yu smiled from the hallway.
“Hi,” she said, suddenly very aware of her bathrobe. Her cheeks flushed and she forced herself to keep looking at him.
“I found these,” he held up a bottle of Jack Daniels, a glass and a flower.
“Where did you find the flower?” She opened the door for him to come in. He breezed right past her. She shielded herself with the door, despite the robes coverage it showed far too much leg for them to have a conversation, then quick-stepped to the bathroom and shut the door.
“They have a whole garden down here. This is the only one I could pick without hurting it,” he said from behind the door. Alexi slid on the yoga pants and tank top that one of the female agents provided for her while normal clothes were being laundered.
“You look beautiful,” John said as she walked out of the bathroom. Her heart sank. She’d forgotten about her hair for a second.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No, not really. Do me a favor, will you? Clean out the little sink?” she asked a surreptitiously as possible. He turned around for a moment as if he were looking for something to clean. Alexi held her breath. She wasn’t sure she could handle it if—he picked up a little waste basket and scooped a handful of her blonde locks out of the sink.
If she had wings she would fly her soul felt so light. Alexi ran the three steps to him and picked him up in a hug that ended with a kiss.
Their lips met and Alexi was flooded with warmth. The pounding of her heart mirrored his own. Alexi’s world was John, the way he smelled, the feel of his hands on her back, the taste of his mouth. She sighed into his kiss as his tongue slipped past hers and filled her mouth with his. She let him guide her back to the dresser.
He leaned into her and pushed himself against her. He enveloped her in a desperate attempt to touch as much of her at once as he could. She pulled back for a second to gaze in his dark eyes.
She hated to interrupt the mood especially with the way she was feeling, but the timing was terrible. She liked him, she really did. How could she tell if her feelings were genuine though? They were in the middle of the end of the world and she was desperate for validation. If she were being honest with herself she would admit that she wasn’t over Victor.
“John, you know what I am. How dangerous it can be around me…”
His fingers glided up the alabaster skin of her arm leaving a trail of goosebumps. They curved around her shoulder to her chin and he cupped it.
“I know you’re amazing and you help people. Am I okay with that? Yes,” he leaned and kissed her lips.
Alexi hesitated. John sensed it and she could see his eyes change.
“What?” He whispered.
“I want you to stay…” she didn’t know what to tell him.
“But?”
“I’m not ready for anything… more. Not yet. Not now.”
He nodded, “I don’t want to force you into anything Alexi, I like you too much to do that. How about we share a drink, lay on the bed, and you can tell me all about your world.”
“How about I skip all the bloodsucking and human sacrifice?”
He smiled, the corners of his mouth crinkled when he did that and she found it adorable.
“Sounds good.”
TWENTY-ONE
Alexi smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She had found some scissors and cleaned up her hatchet job. John had left to scrounge up some breakfast and left her alone. She probably could have found someone in the huge unde
rground complex to cut her hair, but she needed to know. She couldn’t wait any longer. Now she did. It wasn’t a glamour, or at least it wasn’t all a glamour. Maybe there was some magic to the way she looked and the way people reacted to her, but she wasn’t a corpse underneath.
Outside her door, she found her clothes, laundered and folded. A new shirt replaced the one that the zombies had shredded. The black Underarmor had long sleeves with holes in them for her thumbs. It was more Savanna’s speed but beggars couldn’t be choosers. It felt good to be back in her own clothes. She gave one last check of her appearance, she had to admit she looked sharp in the form fitting shirt. If only she had a leather jacket to go with it.
She picked up a simple white sheet of paper she found posted on her door. It read, “Meeting, 0830, Main Hall.” Alexi hopped to have a big plan by then, but the best she could come up with was the one they already tried. Capture a zombie, have Savanna put a whammy on it, follow it back to its creator. It had worked once before, perhaps it could work again?
She checked the clock on the wall, five till. John wasn’t back yet. She left the note on the door for him to find. At least he would know where she was.
Spending the better part of the night talking to him had been a simple pleasure, one she had never experienced before. He was funny, thoughtful, nice. She could see the whole thing happening with him. Everything had happened to quick with Victor. She had loved him for sure, he was what she needed when she needed it. Then he was gone.
With John there was something… normal about it all. They could go on a date, watch a movie, be normal. She smiled as she slid her sword into the scabbard on her back. She could even imagine herself marrying him one day. Her smile quickly faded at the mental image. Then what? She couldn’t have kids. She would outlive him. In twenty years, assuming anyone lived that long, she would still look twenty-seven. In forty… what kind of life would that be for him? What if he wanted kids? How could she even contemplate that kind of life? She was a monster, she fed on peoples blood. Things were always trying to kill her she couldn’t even—
She put her hand on the wall for balance and shook her head.
“No. Not right now.” She said to herself. There was to much to do and not enough time to do any of it. This would have to wait. She walked down the hallway focused on the meeting and what needed to be said. She pushed her thoughts of any kind of future away, because it would never happen.
***
The meeting was already in full swing when Alexi arrived. Outside the hall, she could hear raised voices before she arrived. It appeared they started early.
“Are you out of your mind,” Officer Siegel said loudly.
“Officer, you’re here as a guest and as a courtesy please remember that,” Monique replied as calm as ever.
“I get that, and I appreciate it, but I still don’t understand why you're even contemplating going back out there. We’re safe we have food, shelter. If I get a vote I say we stay put. Let the Army deal with it.”
She was hardly surprised at the Officer's opinion. If Alexi didn’t have her abilities she wouldn’t want to go back out. At least not on the off chance they could fix things. What rational person would willingly risk being eaten alive on a slim hope?
The main hall was an amphitheater with hundreds of seats and a stage. There was a podium in the middle of the stage. Those in attendance were at the bottom in front of the first row of chairs. Connor, Sing, Osei, Monique, and a half dozen other Arcanum agents she didn’t recognize were there. They chose the main hall as the place to meet. Monique had made it clear anyone could attend. Her smile fell when she didn’t see John, but that was okay. She didn’t want him volunteering to do something stupid anyways.
As she drew closer she spied Savanna hiding behind Connor, using him as a shield. Her face was downcast and Alexi couldn’t catch her eye. Her friend seemed sullen and morose. Her connection to her was long since faded. She didn’t need it thought to know something was wrong.
“You okay,” she asked her friend as she came to stand next to her.
Savanna shook her head, “Not really.”
Alexi waited for her to share more when she didn’t she simply slid her arm around her waist and gave her a hug. She glanced over at Connor. The small smiles he gave Savanna spoke volumes to anyone who heard. Alexi couldn’t help but smile. Savanna deserved happiness and Connor was good for her. Even if he was a tad older. Not that she had any to speak. Someday she might be hundreds of years old, who would she date?
“I think we’ve heard enough from you Officer, we appreciate your opinion. Rest assured, if there is an operation outside it will be on a volunteer basis,” Monique said.
“Good, cause you can count me out,” Siegel spat.
Alexi grinned. That was fine with her. She didn’t like having to use her abilities on allies and she didn’t feel like having to calm down a person in the field would do them or her any good.
“Alexi, thank you for joining us. We’re all eager to hear if you and Savanna have a suggestion for this crisis. You both seem to think you know how to stop it?” Monique asked her. Alexi detected a hint of hope in the woman's countenance. She wished she had something better. She squeezed Savanna’s shoulder for support before speaking up.
“A month ago we tracked one, captured it and Savanna placed a spell on it. We then followed it back to its creator and killed it. At the time we though he was the head zombie. Obviously, we were mistaken. However, there’s nothing to indicate that won’t work again.
Heads nodded all around.
“That sounds reasonable,” Monique stated.
“This happened before?” The man who asked was unfamiliar to her.
“Yes. We first encountered them when we were putting an end to a vampire who had taken up residence as a police captain.” Alexi resisted the urge to point out that she tried to warn the Arcanum, but they hadn’t listened. From the look Monique gave her she could tell she won points for her self-control.
“We killed the leader, blew up their base and the reports of attacks and missing persons stopped. We thought that was it. Afterward, we had to—leave town for a little bit. We didn’t realize any of this until we returned last night.”
“Where the hell could you have gone that you didn’t know about this? The entire world knows…” the same agent said.
“It's complicated and best you don’t know,” Savanna said quietly. He didn’t seem happy but he didn’t ask any follow-up.
She turned to regard Savanna. A slight frown played across her lips and on closer inspection Alexi could see red around her eyes. Had she been crying? Savanna played with something on the ground with her foot. Her gaze cast downward.Alexi was a half foot taller than her friend and looked over her head to Connor. She caught his attention and nodded toward the witch and raised an eyebrow. Connor shrugged. He mouthed, “I don’t know what’s wrong.”
More opinions on their plan were offered and while they discussed the merits Alexi pulled Savanna back from the group to look at her in the eyes.
“You like my hair?” she asked. She ran her hand through her dramatically shorter hair. The waves of golden blonde rested on her shoulder now.
“Oh, wow, yeah it looks great. Why did you cut it?”
“I figured out how to beat the glamour. I cut my hair. What I took away was as young and healthy as I appeared. I’m pretty sure it means the glamour isn’t disguising a walking corpse,” she said with a shudder.
Sorrow filled Savanna’s eyes as her lips spread into a soft smile.
“You look great,” Savanna said before casting her eyes back down.
Before Alexi could respond, Monique called her name.
“Would there be any guarantee the zombie it led us to would be the main one? After all, if this happened before and you didn’t get it…” she let the thought trail.
“You have hit the nail of the only flaw, we have no idea. It’s the only thing we can try. I can’t sit here and do nothing while
the world burns.”
“I’ll not risk the lives of our agents on a plan that we don’t even know if it will work. It would be one thing if we knew it would work. If you could guarantee that it would be ‘Zombie-Zero’,” she paused to see if Alexi could make such a guarantee. Alexi couldn’t.
Alexi glanced around at the dozen men and women at the meeting. Connor was clearly on her side and would go in a heartbeat, but the rest? She couldn’t blame them. The Arcanum had rules for this sort of situation. Who was she to argue with a thousand-year-old secret organization? The different sides burst into instant squabbles. Alexi was surprised they didn’t toss her out right then. Some wanted to try anyway, others wanted to hunker down. They didn’t say it, but Alexi knew that if they hunkered down, she and Savanna would be asked to leave.
“I can guarantee it,” Savanna said so softly she had to strain to hear her speak. When no one heard she spoke again, “I can guarantee it,” she said louder.
“How so, Miss Grace, we’ve already established that whatever zombie you cast your spell on will just lead us to the one that infected it and not the one we need,” Monique said.
Savanna shook her head. She pushed her impossibly black hair behind one ear and let out a breath that seemed to deflate her. Worry built in the back of Alexi’s neck. Savanna was powerful, but it was powered that was tempered by sacrifice. She couldn’t be thinking—
“I can summon something. A force powerful enough to find the zombie we need—the original one, zombie-zero. Once there, we could kill it and I could use this,” she raised her new hand. Shadows danced all around them as blue fire erupted over Savanna’s upraised hand. Fae fire Alexi recognized it as the same flame which burned in the Well of Eternity. Several agents stepped back, a few reached for their weapons. It was training and they were trained to fight against magic and witches. Alexi balled her fists. If anyone tried to draw she would drop them. After a moment tensions settled.
Blood Sacrifice (Faith of the Fallen Book 2) Page 20
